treasure in the attic?

[Mrs C.]

Reading Jeeves` comment about the new topic he decided against posting set me thinking.

We all know Kerren and others of us shop on ebay for various goods.
I`m also sure I`m not the only one who, on entering an antique shop or the likes, can not help commenting that " my aunt/mum/grandma/ whoever used to have one of those - and just look how much they`re asking for it here!"
Without wishing to advertise your attic to potential burglars, has anyone actually come across something of considerable value belonging to an elderly relative , or lying in the attic of a recently-moved-into house?

I`ve certainly never met anyone who has.
Although I do know someone who has had some good record finds in charity shops and car-boot sales.

This may be of no interest to anyone,of course, but I`m mildly curious!

[cj]

Funnily enough I visited a friend yesterday, and commented on a mirror she had hanging on the wall. She paid £5 for it to neighbours who were moving away and were going to chuck it in a skip. It's Art Nouveau, metal surround with stylised fish and shells. Completely gorgeous. She did try and explain that it was worth something and from a design history perspective quite interesting, but they weren't fussed. I've never yet come across anything languishing in an attic or a garage that might be valuable, only found a few bits that I like the look of but are not worth much. I shop a lot at the charity shops and junk places around here and get some attractive bits that suit our house. I like scuzzy things that need a bit of tlc. Chairs seem to have been our best buy - 2 Edwardian red velvet high back chairs from Oxfam for £60, and a repro dining/hall chair with a Chippendale/Nalpoleonic style back for £15. Recovered the seat in faux silk and it looks lush. Thanks to all the tv programmes, people are a bit wiser to old gems lurking in hidden corners so I think it's more unusual to find a real bargain.

[Katharine]

Not me but my Mother, someone brought a black photoframe to a jumble sale Mother was organising. She thought it was just the right size for a school photo of my sister so paid her pittance for it. A good while later someone looking at the photo started enquiring about the frame - it was solid silver! One very embarrassed Mum wanted to give more than she could afford to the charity, it took some persuading to get her to agree that she had not cheated anyone and she had paid a fair price for a black frame which was what she had wanted!